"Deal with them as with Midian, as with Sisera and Jabin at the torrent of Kishon, who were destroyed at Endor, who became as dung for the ground." (Psalm 83:5, NASB)
General William Tecumseh Sherman once said, "I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell." In the Spring of 1865 he accepted the surrender of the largest numbers of Confederate soldiers of any Union commander during the war. He is known as the "author" of what was called "modern warfare," i.e., total war, complete destruction of the enemy's ability to make war, materially and psychologically. And this total war, my friend, is the very kind of war into which you and I were born, yes, even before our surrendering our lives to Jesus. We were literally born into the midst of war. This is why we are commanded to, "Put on the whole armor of God." Those who have not this armor are destined to lose.
Now lest some think I am some kind of warmonger, one needs to understand that you and I are in a war which began even before the Garden; our text is a small statement of this war. Furthermore, as we read the Book of Revelation, we discover not only great worship, but also unimaginable warfare. Read all the translations one wishes, analyze the Greek constructions of nouns, verbs and adjectives; nothing changes this in "The Revelation", for that matter, the Word of God in entirety. In Daniel 10:12-14 we read, "Then he said to me, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding (literally, "took his stand against me") for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter (literally, "end of the days"), for the vision pertains to the days yet future.'" (NASB).
Our text is an appeal for our Lord Jesus Christ to, "Deal with them." This is the very foundation of "spiritual warfare," not I and my shouting, my declarations, etc. It is King Jesus, described in Psalm 46:7 (LB) as, "The Commander of the armies of heaven," who is the Initiator, the Sustainer, and Completer of the "Great War." The outcome of this war was sealed at the Cross, in the death, and resurrection of our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. So today, in a "small" skirmish or perhaps outright battle with the Enemy who is attempting to discourage you, to defeat and finish you, remember that from the Cross Jesus cried, "It is finished," yes, our forgiveness, our salvation, our deliverance, but also the Kingdom of Darkness is finished. Jesus has, "Deal[t] with them."
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to walk in submission to Your purposes in all of this. Amen.
General William Tecumseh Sherman once said, "I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell." In the Spring of 1865 he accepted the surrender of the largest numbers of Confederate soldiers of any Union commander during the war. He is known as the "author" of what was called "modern warfare," i.e., total war, complete destruction of the enemy's ability to make war, materially and psychologically. And this total war, my friend, is the very kind of war into which you and I were born, yes, even before our surrendering our lives to Jesus. We were literally born into the midst of war. This is why we are commanded to, "Put on the whole armor of God." Those who have not this armor are destined to lose.
Now lest some think I am some kind of warmonger, one needs to understand that you and I are in a war which began even before the Garden; our text is a small statement of this war. Furthermore, as we read the Book of Revelation, we discover not only great worship, but also unimaginable warfare. Read all the translations one wishes, analyze the Greek constructions of nouns, verbs and adjectives; nothing changes this in "The Revelation", for that matter, the Word of God in entirety. In Daniel 10:12-14 we read, "Then he said to me, 'Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding (literally, "took his stand against me") for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter (literally, "end of the days"), for the vision pertains to the days yet future.'" (NASB).
Our text is an appeal for our Lord Jesus Christ to, "Deal with them." This is the very foundation of "spiritual warfare," not I and my shouting, my declarations, etc. It is King Jesus, described in Psalm 46:7 (LB) as, "The Commander of the armies of heaven," who is the Initiator, the Sustainer, and Completer of the "Great War." The outcome of this war was sealed at the Cross, in the death, and resurrection of our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. So today, in a "small" skirmish or perhaps outright battle with the Enemy who is attempting to discourage you, to defeat and finish you, remember that from the Cross Jesus cried, "It is finished," yes, our forgiveness, our salvation, our deliverance, but also the Kingdom of Darkness is finished. Jesus has, "Deal[t] with them."
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to walk in submission to Your purposes in all of this. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
